This was the first album the group recorded as Slade and it was the first album produced by Chas Chandler. Released in the UK on 28/11/1970 it used the bands new skinhead image to make an impact. The band certainly made an impact, albeit negative, but in terms of sales and chart position the record did very little.

Play It Loud features mainly self-written songs at Chandler's insistence (some of which turn up later on the Sladest compilation) and drummer Don Powell features as one of the main co-writers. It's a shame he didn't stick with it because his songs have an earthy grit and longevity that keeps them sounding good to this day.
The songs on this album show early signs of the developing talent the band had. Noddy Holder is just starting to stretch his vocals. See Us Here, has some great bass, Dapple Rose featuring violin, both played by Jim Lea of course, and Dirty Joker with it's funky chicken scratch guitar work. Far more promising though, the awesome power of both Sweet Box and I Remember, which hint at the shape of things to come.

Express & Star: 31st October 1970

The group appeared on Disco 2 to promote the album. They made three appearances in 1970. The first featured Shape Of Things To Come and the second in October featured Know Who You Are and Sweetbox and was broadcast in colour. All three performances of Slade are, at present, missing.

New Musical Express: December 19th 1970

SLADE: PLAY IT LOUD (Polydor, 2383 026, 42s 6d)

Aggresive - that's what the music and vocalising of Slade seems to be, though they vary the volume with great skill, at times quiet, then turning it up and shouting at the listener as in Know Who You Are. They also bark out a love song to Angelina, and get a good rhythm going with handclaps on Dirty Joker, and on Sweet Box they attack the music ferociously with guitars and voices.

Of the more tuneful items (and tune isn't given much of a chance on most tracks) is Could I. The lead vocalist is inclined to shout too much, but then, maybe that is the appeal of the group. Pity their names and the instrument they play aren't mentioned on the sleeve, where only their pictures appear. Chas Chandler gets the credit of producing. AE.Other titles: Raven, See Us Here, Dapple Rose, One Way Hotel, Shape Of Things To Come, I Remember, Pouk Hill.

Welcome

There is nothing new on this blog, everything here has been previously available elsewhere, in one format or another. My aim here is to try to ensure that the information is available to all Slade fans everywhere.

My thanks to Chris Selby (without whom I would know nothing)and anybody else that has supplied anything personal to this or any other media collection. I must apologise to Chris Charlesworth for taking liberty's with his book. Anybody who is interested in the group's history should invest in a copy of 'Feel The Noize', generally considered to be The Slade Bible by most fans. And last but by no means least,Keith Farley ('N Between Times) and John R. Woodhouse (Brum Beat) who have provided much background information by way of their on-line research, These should be studied by anybody with any interest in the 60's Midland Beat era. More general 60's info can be found at Marmalade Skies, a source of invaluable pop essentials.

Any offer of missing artwork would be gratefully received. My main concern is to get 'readable text' for the trainspotters.

Contributors

Official Media

All of Slade's official releases have been remastered and released on CD with good quality packaging and comprehensive sleeve notes by Salvo for Union Square. I would recommend the purchase of this collection to anybody who is interested in the group. This blog will not be making any official music available for download.

Images are for review or research purposes only. All images, audio, video, text, etc. is copyright. Apart from fair dealing for the purposes of private study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced, copied, transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of the copyright holder.

The Historian

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Chris Selby for his input. This site owes much, if not all, to his relentless research and charitable nature. Keep up the good work mate.

Slade Fans

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Subject: From Roots To Boots

mcp59 at live dot co dot uk

Copyright

No part of this work should be reproduced or used without the express permission of the author or his associates. Failure to comply may result in legal action. This blog copyright of Michael Parker and associated sources.